Biodiversity Journal , 2018, 9 (2): 107–114 DOI: 10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2018.9.2.107.114

Identification of subspecies and parentage relationship by means of DNA fingerprinting in two exemplary of troglodytes (Blumenbach, 1775) (Mammalia )

Viviana Giangreco 1, Claudio Provito 1, Luca Sineo 2, Tiziana Lupo 1, Floriana Bonanno 1 & Stefano Reale 1*

1Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia “A. Mirri”, Via G. Marinuzzi 3, 90129 Palermo, Italy 2Biologia animale e Antropologia, Dip. STEBICEF, Via Archirafi 18, 90123 Palermo, Italy *Corresponding author, e-mail: [email protected]

ABSTRACT Four subspecies (Mammalia Hominidae) are commonly recognised: the West - ern Chimpanzee, P. troglodytes verus (Schwarz, 1934), the - Chim - panzee, P. troglodytes ellioti, the Central Chimpanzee, P. troglodytes troglodytes (Blumenbach, 1799), and the Eastern Chimpanzee, P. troglodytes schweinfurthii (Giglioli, 1872). Recent studies on mitochondrial DNA show the incorporation of P. troglodytes schweinfurthii in P. troglodytes troglodytes , suggesting the existence of only two sub - species: P. troglodytes troglodytes in Central and Eastern Africa and P. troglodytes verus- P. troglodytes ellioti in West Africa. The aim of the present study is twofold: first, to identify the correct subspecies of two chimpanzee samples collected in a Biopark structure in Carini (Sicily, Italy), and second, to verify whether there was a kinship relationship be - tween the two samples through techniques such as DNA barcoding and microsatellite analysis. DNA was extracted from ’ buccal swabs, the cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COI) gene was amplified using universal primers, then purified and injected into capillary electrophoresis Genetic Analyzer ABI 3130 for sequencing. The sequence was searched on the NCBI Blast database. In addiction, the microsatellite analysis was performed on the same machine for parentage detection among samples, and data were analyzed with GenMapper software. Our results show that both samples were P. troglodytes troglodytes , while the analysis of the microsatellite results in an unclear relationship between two chim - panzee samples.

KEY WORDS Hominidae; Pan ; Africa; DNA; cytochrome oxidase ; evolution.

Received 08.03.2018; accepted 29.04.2018; printed 30.06.2018; published online 05.07.2018

INTRODUCTION to as a “DNA barcode” (Hebert et al., 2003), contain approximately 648 base-pair in almost all the Cellular Biology and Molecular Genetics have species and can serve as the standard barcode for assumed over time a greater role in species identi - almost all . fication. The identification was based on the as - DNA barcode amplicons are typically obtained sumption that there are no individuals (except by PCR using standardized and universal primer homozygous twins) who have exactly the same sets; there are approximately five million COI bar - genome. The sequence of mitochondrial cy - code sequences in GenBank and/or BOLD (Bar - tochrome C oxidase subunit 1 (COI), often referred code of Life) databases in about 280,000 species. 108 VIVIANA GIANGRECO ET ALII

In addition to “DNA barcode”, the study of ge - between is too small to justify the dis - netic diversity among species or subspecies can be tinction in subspecies. obtained analyzing the combination of a group of Later studies, including more mtDNA haplo - microsatellites loci with relative alleles frequencies types, once more did not find consistent support for extracted from genomic sequences. monophyly of P. troglodytes troglodytes and P. The possibility of carrying out genetic trace - troglodytes schweinfurthii (Gagneux et al., 2001; ability analysis on biological samples in the Gonder et al., 2006). In addition, in the study by framework of surveillance programs, represents Gonder et al. (2006), no fixed nucleotide differ - without doubt a strong deterrent for illegal com - ences distinguishing the haplotypes of Central and mercial procedures, illegal hunting, and protected Eastern chimpanzees were detected. species commercialization. Conducting this type Other bibliographies consulted are: Boesch & of investigation requires a technique that com - Boesch, 1993; Sakura, 1994; Bard, 1995; Jones et bines sensitivity and high discriminating power, al., 1996; Goldberg & Wrangham, 1997; Gagneux so as to allow researchers to use it even on mini - et al., 1999; Mitani et al., 2000; Butynski, 2003; mum sample quantities and to trace or identify an Marsh, 2003; Poulsen & Clark, 2004; Prufer et al., individual in a univocal way and with a low mar - 2012. gin of error. By means of microsatellites, we can detect parentage relationship among samples, but also MATERIAL AND METHODS carry out population studies and shed light on mi - Two samples of chimpanzee ( Pan troglodytes ) gration and evolutionary processes. from the Bioparco di Sicilia, Carini (Sicily, Italy), Knowing the genetic profile of a single both coming from a Belgian circus, were analyzed in relation to certain polymorphisms allows to: in April 2017. • ascertain the pedigree by genetic investigation Eight DNA samples were collected from buccal of paternity and / or maternity; swabs, four samples for each chimpanzee. The two • tackle suspected cases of , acts of cru - specimens have been identified as: first individual, elty, and illegal imports of protected animals; named Mango (MN), born in 2000; second individ - • identify the species and / or determine the sex, ual, named Whiskey (WY), born in 1998. helping to safeguard biodiversity. The samples, numbered and subdivided into different plastic bags, were deposited in a transport Knowledge of population relationships might box and placed in a cooler bag, and the following also facilitate the use of the limited resources avail - day brought to the “Istituto Zooprofilattico Speri - able for conservation efforts (Schonewald-Cox et mentale della Sicilia”, Palermo (Italy). DNA ex - al., 1983; Avise, 1996), and might help in guiding traction was performed through the kit E.Z.N.A. breeding programs of chimpanzees kept in captivity Tissue DNA Kit Protocol - Whole Blood and Body (see Witzenberger & Hochkirch, 2011; Hvilsom et Fluids. Quantification of DNA extracted was per - al., 2013). formed using NANODROP 1000 spectrophotome - Genetic data on mitochondrial DNA (Gonder et ter from THERMO SCIENTIFIC. The COI gene al., 2006), analyses of complete genomes (Prado- was amplified by PCR using the AmpliTaq Gold™ Martinez et al., 2013), and on autosomal microsatel - DNA Polymerase Kit (Applied Biosystems) and lites (Fünfstück et al., 2015) suggest that the the specific primers Cyt-1 (F) CCAATGATAT - subspecies form two distinctive groups: one group GAAAAACATCGTT and Cyt-2 (R) GCCC - includes P. troglodytes verus and P. troglodytes el - CTCAGAATGATATTTGTCCTC for a final size lioti in West Africa and the other group includes P. of amplificate of 474 base pairs. The mixture was troglodytes troglodytes and P. troglodytes schwein - optimized as follows: 1X PCR Buffer 5 µl, 2 mM furthii in Central and Eastern Africa. MgCl2 4 µl, 10 mM dNTP mixture 2 µl, 0.6 Fischer et al. (2006) argue that, based on their pmol/ µl cyt B1 0.5 µl, 0.6 µl cyt B1 0.5 µl , 0,6 µl work on nuclear DNA and considerations on mor - cyt B2 0.5 µl, 0.03 U/ µl taq Polymerase 0.3 µl and phological and behavioral similarity, the difference water to 50 µl final volume. The amplification was Subspecies and parentage relationship by means of DNA fingerprinting in two exemplary of Pan troglodytes 109

optimized in accord to the manufacturer (Thermo), Identifiler kit for labeling the samples are shown in a 9700 thermal cycler (Applied Biosystems) in Table 1. with an initial denaturation step at 94 °C for 8 min, followed by 40 cycles, primer annealing at 53 °C for 50 s, and elongation at 72 °C for 1 minute and RESULTS AND DISCUSSION a final extension step at 72 °C for 7 minutes. All gene amplification reactions were visualized on The amplification of the COI gene in eight iso - 2% agarose gel (GellyPhor Euroclone), prepared lates taken from two samples of P. troglodytes gave by dissolving the 0.5X TBE agar and the DNA a specific band on agarose gel. The size of ampli - bands of interest displayed through an UV image fied fragment was 508 bp (Fig. 1). acquisition system, ChemiDoc BioRad (Biotec NCBI BLAST database search of the sequence 206). The samples of amplified DNA were sub - gave a similarity with species Pan troglodytes jected to purification through the “GFX PCR DNA troglodytes for both Wishy and Mango samples and gel band purification kit”. Once the purified with 99% of identity. ones were obtained, the sequence PCR was per - The microsatellites fragment were analyzed formed, with the “Bigdye Terminator Cycle Se - using the GeneMapper ID software. All electro - quencing Kit” (Applied Biosystems), considering pherograms derived from the fragment analysis of a reaction volume of 20 µl for each sample. The se - samples of Pan troglodytes for each locus are re - quence products were then purified through the ported in figures 2–7. We excluded the fluorescent “Big Dye Xterminator Purification KIT” kit and in - dye PET® because it did not give any peak. jected into the ABI Prism 3130 DNA sequencer With the VIC® dye, in the two figures (Figs. 4, (Life technologies). 5), the electropherograms of each locus, respec - The sequences obtained were searched on the tively of Whisky and Mango, were represented. Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST) With the NED™ dye, in the two figures (Figs. Database for species identification. Only se - 6, 7), the electropherograms of each locus, respec - quences with a low e-value and high degree of tively of Whisky and Mango, were represented. identity were retained. Further analyzes for the In Table 2, the alleles for each locus are reported identification of microsatellites were carried out. for all samples. Sample 3 of Whisky didn’t present Initially, after the DNA extraction from buccal swabs, samples were adjusted for their concentra - tion in ng/ µl after dilution with the corresponding TE at 0.1%. The mix was constituted in according to Kit “AMPF1 STR Identifiler PCR Amplifica - tion”. The amplification program includes an ini - tial 95 °C incubation step for 11 minutes, a denaturation phase at 94 °C for 1 minute, an an - nealing step at 59 °C for 1 minute, an initial ex - tension at 72 °C for 1 minute, an extension final at 60 °C for 60 minutes. Genetic profiles obtained from the microsatellites analysis were analyzed using the GeneMapper ID v4.0 software. Applied Biosystems multicolour fluorescent dye technol - ogy enables the analysis of multiple loci, including loci that have alleles with overlapping size ranges. The alleles for the superimposed loci are distin - guished by the labeling of specific primers for locus with different colored dyes. Multi compo - nent analysis is the process that separates the dif - ferent colors of fluorescent dye into distinct spectral components. The four dyes used in the Table 1. Loci list and relative dye employed. 110 VIVIANA GIANGRECO ET ALII

Figure 1. Electropherograms of the Whisky sample with 6- FAM ™ dye.

Figure 2. Electropherograms of the Mango sample with 6- FAM ™ dye. Subspecies and parentage relationship by means of DNA fingerprinting in two exemplary of Pan troglodytes 111

Figure 3. Electropherogram of the Whisky sample with VIC® dye.

Figure 4. Electropherogram of Mango sample with VIC® dye. 112 VIVIANA GIANGRECO ET ALII

Figure 5. Electropherogram of Whisky samples with NED™ dye.

Figure 6. Electropherogram of Mango samples with NED™ dye. Subspecies and parentage relationship by means of DNA fingerprinting in two exemplary of Pan troglodytes 113

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